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Do you think you have to gain a certain number of subscribers before selling a product? What’s the number?

1000?

5000?

10,000?

I thought that way for a long time, that I needed to hit a vague number of subscribers before selling something. One thing I’ve learned in my time at ConvertKit though is that there is no magic number of subscribers you have to achieve before creating a product or course and selling it!

You can sell right at the beginning

During the last few months I’ve shared how I’m creating content and building a list for sketchnotes. I made the pivot at the beginning of 2016, and now at the end of the year I created a course to sell. My only regret is that it took me 11 months to start selling!

This month, I’m going to show you how I created the course , decided on content, targeted customers using ConvertKit automations, and had a 40% conversion rate in my private launch.

First, here’s my subscriber update for November: 447

So what can you do with less than 500 subscribers? When it comes to making money with your blog, the first step is covering expenses. Sure, it can be passion project for a couple years, but after a while those costs add up if you’re not bringing any money in.

Here are my expenses:

Product & Cost (per month)

ConvertKit = $29

Web Hosting & Domains = $11

Wistia = $25

Total = $65/month, $780/year

A question I always ask myself with a tool (or really anything) is “will this product or service pay for itself?”. I have to know using it helps me make more money because of what it allows me to do.

If you focus only on ConvertKit, it cost $348/year for the 1k plan. So does ConvertKit help you make that back over the course of the year? Of course I believe it does, but I’m biased. Let me show you the blueprint for how I’ve used to automate the value delivery and sales pitch for my course.

Funnel Entry: The Free Email Course

This blog has a ton of examples on course building, so I won’t hang here too much. New subscribers all receive my sketchnote starter lessons, a free 5 email mini-course. I use a simple ConvertKit landing page at IdeasNotArt.com/free-course, and it delivers each day for 5 days.

In email 4, there is a soft pitch at the end to share the course. I have a link trigger set there to tag anyone who clicks as interested. At the end of the course, all subscribers are added to two sequences in ConvertKit with an automation. One is a dedicated pitch sequence, the other are my “newsletters”.

Here’s a look:

The Pitch Funnel

In the pitch sequence, the first email is set to go out three days after the rule triggers, which is one week after their initial opt-in. In another automation wonder, if a subscriber bought the course from that initial soft pitch, they are excluded from the pitch sequence completely. No one likes to be sold on something they already purchased.

Here’s the rule setup in ConvertKit:

With this funnel blueprint, you can automate any type of product or course, it’s just a matter of creating the content. You can be more elaborate with your funnels, but if you’re just starting out or don’t have a ton of time (like me), this is what you should be doing.

Early sales

To first launch my course, I started adding link trigger hints at the bottom of my newsletters to see who was interested. After two weeks, I had a tag of 25 people that expressed interest in the course. This week I sent them a sales email with a link to buy the course.

Within the first 24 hours, 12 people had purchased the course at the early bird price of $19, netting me $228 in the first day! Those 25 people were the most interested, but they’re only about 5% of my overall list.

A 45% conversion isn’t going to last, but if you drop it down to a normal 10%, it could be an additional 40 buyers at $29 each. If true, that’s $1,160 and my expenses are covered!

Automating for freelancers & consultants

The other type of sales funnel I have set up is just for people who want to hire me to create sketchnotes. If you’re a web designer, illustrator, coach, photographer, anyone who works with clients, you should steal this!

We can call it a nurture funnel instead, but the pitch to hire you is still there, only automated. I still use a ConvertKit form to gather their email address and name, and the sequence kicks off.

I already know the person is interested, so I’m giving them the link to book me in each email. I use Typeform to gather the information needed to begin the project, and after the client finishes in Typeform I use Zapier to tag him or her as a client in ConvertKit.

Now I don’t have to spend as much time qualifying leads, and the potential clients have a better feel for my work before they book my service. Win-win!

Why this matters early

My Dad wants to start a blog, so we were talking about what it would look like if he had a 5 year runway to becoming profitable. I was emphatic that he needed to have a product or course early, because it lays the foundation for profitable blogging in the long run. One of the biggest mistakes I made early was to dismiss creating a product until I had built more authority. I should have had something to sell.

Remember, even basic web hosting and the smallest plan on ConvertKit will still run you close to $500 in a year. You should be committed to at least making that back. Having a funnel in place for 100 people will pay dividends when you reach 1000, 5000, and 10,000 subscribers!

A quick note on affiliate offers & ad traffic: Yes, these can also be a source of early revenue, but a professional blogger should not rely on them. Why? Because you don’t control them. Affiliates pull offers, sponsored posts aren’t continued, Google changes keyword pricing and AdSense revenue, then you’re stuck. You should build a business to control your own revenue streams.

My biggest lesson from working with professional bloggers

I spent most of my first year at ConvertKit helping our largest customers migrate from their old service over to ConvertKit. I was able to study and learn from their own funnels and how different products and courses were pitched. Some were elaborate, some were simple, but the majority of them had one thing in common.

They weren’t afraid to sell early

Sometimes it was in the very first email, with a link to buy their book or mini-course. But the first pitch was made was within one week or just a few emails. It’s not wrong to sell something you’ve created. We forget that people are being sold all day, and it’s actually nice to have sales wrapped around tons of value for your topic. Most things we encounter each day are just sales with little to no value, you are providing 90% value with a dash of sales.

Do. Not. Feel. Bad.

Your first product

If creating a course seems overwhelming right now, and you want to begin with a small product, that’s exactly what I did! My first product was a short ebook about creating sketchnotes at conferences, followed by a sticker pack. To help, I came up with 5 product types for bloggers you can download below. Go through it to see which type of product can work for you early, and then scale up from there! You’ll also receive an additional monthly lesson from me about how to build and scale your business from the ground up.

Do you ever catch yourself perusing your Twitter, rss, or email feed, with a sneaky suspicion that all these posts sound eerily similar? The content usually differs (though not always), but the basic layout, flow, and hooks all fit into a neat framework?

That’s because they do.

Why this Framework Exists

Now, before you feel like you’ve been played, there’s a good reason for the structure and framework many of the best posts share. As content creators in an age of information parity, we strive to balance getting the point (or product) across, while benefiting the reader and helping the idea stick in your mind. This framework is driven by a substantial amount of research and testing, so the baseline can be set for overall length, readability, media choices, and stickiness. Sometimes I’m reminded of Mad Libs, plugging in adjectives, nouns, actions, and studies to create a killer blog post. Many people may see this as a shortcut, but I don’t. I see it as a way to create order out of chaos.

HelpScout, Buffer, CopyBlogger, HubSpot all immediately jump to mind, and for good reason. They’ve mastered the art of content marketing as a tool to educate users and connect with customers. You don’t even really feel like a customer, but a part of the greater tribe, and happily refer your friends and clients to them.

In a connection economy, driven by stories and research studies, most customers will not tolerate being interrupted. But they will develop incredible brand loyalty to the companies that commit to helping them them solve problems and overcome challenges. Hopefully, this is the type of company you desire to be. Helpful, informative, and profitable.

Using the Guide Mindset

How can you do this with your company? Great question. I want to share the framework I’ve been using to write posts and case studies, and they’ve resulted in articles that have been shared thousands of times. Before we begin, you have to place yourself in the mindset of a guide, not a hero. When people feel like they are a part of greater story, solving problems and overcoming challenges in their lives, they are the hero. You are the guide, and present a plan of action for the hero to follow.

Think like a guide, not a hero.

Step 1: The Headline

Why this Matters

Headlines are the most important part of any article, because they must draw in the reader. Especially in the context of a startup company like Buffer or HelpScout, quality headlines can make or or break your content marketing goals. At the beginning, we haven’t built the readership of large sites or online magazines.

Whether the first glance is seen on social media, rss feeds, or emails, a good headline is the difference between your article and the next one. The types I’ve listed above help clarify the problem or challenge, and present a plan of action for moving forward.

Step 2: Presenting the Problem or Challenge

Here at (company name), we’re always working hard to (adjective-action). Since the nature of (problem or challenge) is increasingly complex, we dove into (research, case study, experiments) so we could share the best way to (plan of action).

Why this Matters

Clarity is king. Attention spans continue to decrease while the amount of information increases, meaning if you haven’t made the challenge clear in the opening paragraph and headline, your readers are leaving. In order to clarify the challenge, you must be in tune with your readers, know the pains and problems they are experiencing, and be ready to offer a plan of action.

Master Level Resources

Step 3: The Plan of Action – Using F.R.E.E. Structures

Breaking down a post to several small plans of action is helpful for readers. It helps contextualize the problem and make the solution attainable. Use sub-headlines to break up your sections and provide clear reference points for the plan of action. I’ve come up with a structure that helps create helpful sections for readers, almost like creating several “mini-posts” within the larger article. Using this structure, the reader could leave the page at any time, and still have something helpful and actionable to move forward with. Here is the structure:

Frame the challenge in a smaller contextReference or research studyEngage other senses through imagesEnd by giving the reader a small step they can take today

Why this Matters

This step is where your skill as a guide really comes in to play. Remember this story is not about you, but the ways you can guide the reader towards a proper plan of action. The F.R.E.E. structure simply helps organize the sub-section into memorable and digestible format that sticks with the reader, regardless of where they stop reading. You can repeat this structure for each section until you’re ready to tie everything together.

Master Level Resources

Step 4: Involve the Community

After you’ve presented the problem and given a clear plan of action, the next step is up to the reader. We’re not in control of their lives and cannot take action for them! However, there is a way we can help each other stay accountable and move forward, and it’s deeply ingrained in our anthropology. Community.

Why this Matters

As humans, we need to be supported by each other. We were made for connection and support, so it’s vital we have the structure in place to encourage people to connect! This could be through comments, forums, specific hashtags, Facebook groups, or local meet ups. HelpScout does this in a subtle yet important box at the end of their posts, asking the readers to respond to just one question. Be very clear with the reader in ways they can connect with each other and share their struggles and successes in facing the challenge.

This plug-and-publish method isn’t permission to avoid the hard work of research, formatting, and great writing. What it does help with is creating order and stickiness out of the chaos inherent in content. To help illustrate the ideas even better, here’s a handy sketch-o-graphic you can download to help remember!

Your Turn

As a content creator, what do you focus on the most? As a reader, what helps you digest and retain information best?

I recently had the honor of presenting on storytelling at Podcamp Nashville, and I’m so grateful to everyone who came out to the event. Speaking is always a good challenge and learning experience for me, and this session was no different. It was my first run on this slide deck and structure, I’ve talked about story before, but wanted to give this talk more structure, action, and examples. Overall, I was very pleased with the result and the feedback was great, but I know there was plenty I could work on. Enjoy all the resources and let me know if I can help with anything!

Earlier this month, I read Steve Jobs, the autobiography of the great innovator and tech giant. Throughout the book, a central message was evident in Jobs’ life, and seemed to be the overarching theme of his work at Apple.

Focus

The ability to focus on what truly matters to the product and the user is a difficult task. Adding on features, colors, and copy can distract from what truly makes a product or service unique and special.

In Jobs’ final weeks, he invited Google CEO Eric Schmidt to his home to give advice on how to be the type of CEO who built a lasting company. Here’s what Jobs stressed to Schmidt:

“Focus. Figure out what you want to be when you grow up. Right now you’re all over the map. What are the five products you want to focus on? Get rid of the rest, because they’re dragging you down.”

My biggest resolution in the coming new year is to get focused in 2014. Now for the past several months, focus has been my mantra, if not my everyday practice. Jobs’ insistence that simplicity is not easy has never been more obvious. Picking and honing your focus is a strenuous and difficult task. Focusing means you say no to many different opportunities, because they don’t fit. Focus means cutting away the clutter in your work and life so you can see the few things which really matter.

Focusing is difficult because of the fear of missing out, thinking I need to be ready for the next big thing to present itself. But what I’m missing out on is the opportunity to continually go deeper in the task I’m focusing on. This short story symbolizes the lesson well.

————

Two men, Jack and John, own adjoining fields during the gold rush. Jack picks a spot where he sees little gold flakes, and begins to dig. John does the same, and they spend the day digging. The next morning, Jack returns to the same hole and continues to dig. As John is walking to his hole, he sees a glint of gold a few yards away. He immediately runs over and spends the day digging this new hole. The same routine continues for several months.

One day, far below the earth, Jack’s shovel strikes something hard. He digs a little deeper to find a vein of gold running through his land. His persistence has paid off! John hears of his friend’s good fortune, and can’t help but look at his own field, marked with countless holes about as deep as he is tall. Which man are you?

————

A common argument against topical focus is that there are so many mediums in which to tell your story and put your stake in the ground. Think of the problem this way though: the main topic or mission of your company doesn’t change, but how you tell the story and share the mission can. Google spent a lot of time refining their search engine before branching off in to mail, docs, and more. Apple began with computers, spending the first 17 years as a company just building computers and software. Then of course came the iPod, iTunes, iPhone, and iPad.

Your missional focus doesn’t change, you simply pivot on how you’re telling the message, based on what the numbers and the market are telling you. Here’s another example: Pat Flynn of Smart Passive Income is all about teaching people passive income strategies to help make money on the side (or full-time). Pat shares his message through a blog, podcast, and YouTube videos. You see? Why Pat does something doesn’t change, but how he shares it might be different.

Jiro Ono, the famed Sushi chef, has this to say about picking your craft , and not being led by fear:

“Once you decide on your occupation… you must immerse yourself in your work. You have to fall in love with your work. Never complain about your job. You must dedicate your life to mastering your skill. That’s the secret of success and is the key to being regarded honorably.”

As we all move in to 2014, my hope for all of us is to have the courage to say no to a few things, so we can say yes to what truly matters, and will allow us to make a long-term impact on our family, community, and work.

Happy New Year!

What are you focusing on in your life? Are you ruled by the fear of missing out, or choosing the “wrong” focus? If you’ve kept your focus for several months or years, what are some ways you hone your focus and block out distractions? We’d love to hear in the comments.

Content marketing is a great way to use your skills and knowledge to help customers overcome their objections to your product or service. Potential customers and clients naturally have their radar up to try and sift through your message and learn what’s really important. Get that? Your customers want to learn.

You’re going to teach them

As professionals, we have a responsibility now to educate our customers on best practices, industry secrets, and more. We’re able to tell the story of why we are in business, how we work, and what our work looks like on a daily basis. The opportunity to show and tell offers a definitive market advantage. You’re able to connect with them in a way that was unthinkable ten years ago.

Content Marketing helps you accomplish this

Take a summer camp for example. Their sales goal is to get campers and new families to register for a session. Some of their objections may be:

What if he’s homesick?

What activities will they do?

How will camp help them grow?

These are all great questions, and unfortunately they wouldn’t all be voiced in an information setting. Your website plays a big role in answering these questions, especially in a single-answer setting e.g. “your son would play these games”. A video would be fantastic, because families are able to see what the games are, and what the environment is like. Social media is a good opportunity to post pictures or gauge feedback through polls.

Blogs are the engine of content marketing, because a blog is where you build your established authority. Going back to the camp example, while I could answer questions and overcome objections to some questions through static content, a consistent voice on child development and growth is key. Here are five examples of posts a summer camp could use:

How Rites of Passage Jump-Start Your Child’s Development

The 3 Most Important Interview Questions We Ask Our Staff

Our Unique Twist on Staff Training

What We Talk About When We Talk About Camp

The 7 Critical Character Traits of Growing Children

In each post, you’re overcoming a specific obstacle or question a parent may have. The first and fifth posts are best, because you’re helping them solve a problem that’s not necessarily related to your camp (though it is). These posts provide content that any parent would want to know, and they are more likely to share it with friends.

Real life example: HelpScout

HelpScout is a customer service and support software for businesses. They provide an incredible product with great support that has tangible benefits for their clients. HelpScout also produces the web’s best customer service content, and it converts like crazy. Here are a couple examples of their posts:

Recognize the beauty of content marketing. These articles are crammed with value for any business owner or manager. Creating loyal customers? Heck yeah I want to know more! Getting more customers? You know it!

HelpScout has built an email list of 30,000 in just one year. Customer service isn’t an underserved niche either, they have plenty of competition. But through being generous with their expertise, they have built a loyal following. Not all of their readers are paying customers, including me. Whenever I need to use customer service software though, HelpScout will be the first place I click.

Establishing Authority

I want to be clear that content marketing may or may not drive direct traffic and registrations to your business. What it does accomplish is to place your business in the customer’s mind as an authority in the subject. When they are wondering about a question related to your topic, and need an answer, where do you think they will look? You. In HelpScout’s case, thousands of their readers have no intention of using their service. But by creating valuable, shareable content, they are extending their reach and building their influence every day.

People will realize that you have the customer’s best interest at heart, and are willing to share information regardless of immediate sale. Indirectly, this promotes brand loyalty precisely because of the inherent truth that you must care about the well-being of the customer or client. If you don’t, content marketing isn’t for you. Content marketing is about storytelling, transparency, and customer care.

People gather as much information as they can before making a decision. You should be the one giving it to them.

The United States actually began as a society of small businesses, we just don’t think of early agriculture that way. During colonial times, nearly 90% of Americans made their living through farming and ranching. While most farms were used to provide for the family and community, regional shipping was common as farms became modernized.

But for the most part, large corporations didn’t exist, and each community was built around farmers, craftsmen, and shopkeepers. Almost everyone had their own small business which played a vital part in the community.

creative commons from upyernoz

Ok, great, why does this matter today? Because I’m going to argue that there is a new kind of farmer in America, the local small business owners. Yes, of course small businesses have been around since the founding of America. But in the last 30 years, we are finally coming back around to small businesses making a big impact on the national economy.

The Growth of Small Businesses

Since 1982, small businesses have grown by 49%, and now provide over half of the total American jobs. In fact, since 1990, large corporations have eliminated four million jobs, small business start-ups and hires have added eight million jobs!

Large businesses certainly make products cheaper to build, and consequently cheaper to buy. But we’ve lost something in the process, and sold off a little of our independence in order to save a few bucks. When I see local small business owners, I realize it’s possible to serve a niche in our own community. Instead of looking for the next big corporate job, people are looking for ways to use their unique skills to serve the local community.

Life used to be like this, and you can see the proof in the last names. Baker, Smith, Potter, Weaver, and more. They each had a unique skill which served the community in a special way. They didn’t worry about running out of work, because they served a need. The need for an apprentice has also gone by the wayside, which is a shame. Young people learned valuable lessons from men and women in their community who weren’t their parents, while gaining knowledge at work they may do in the future.

Global Scale for Local Small Businesses

The internet and global economy has now allowed even local small businesses to make sales and reach an audience around the world! We can have the freedom to put the future in our own hands, and not in the hands of the top floor executive.

We’ve seen throughout the decades an emphasis on buying American goods, and recently a focus on buying regional and local goods. Small and mid-size cities who don’t have big business to bring in jobs are even more fanatical about the local movement. Think about the different small businesses in your town that serve a niche. Restaurants, breweries, craftsmen, artists, musicians, designers, retail shops – they’re everywhere!

I’m in the midst of a life, job, and city transition myself, and I just catch myself wondering…

“Do I really want to jump immediately in to the next 50 hour a week job?”

My hesitation is not a result of being lazy, I really enjoy work and contribution. But I do think about what I want my next big block of work to be, and like many small business owners, it want it to be something where I have a big say in how I work.

Another reason is that while a traditional job does offer certain benefits and levels of security, actual job security is not what it used to be! People are laid off with regularity, for various reasons. In some very important ways, running your own small business is actually more secure than your old job!

As a small business owner, you control your destiny in many critical ways. Your success or failures depend a lot on your work ethic and drive. Many people end up asking,

“Can I bet on myself?”

If the answer is yes, then go for it! Remember that America was founded on the strength and numbers of local small businesses and farmers. Here’s hoping we go back to it soon.

Name a low-cost, effective way to grow your readership, connect with other bloggers, and gain the most valuable asset of all – trust.

What did you come up with? Comment down below! Feeling stumped? I’ll tell you my answer …

Be Generous

photo credit: krislitman, creative commons

That’s right. Give outrageously valuable content away. Help people out and expect nothing in return. If you are open and generous with your time and talent, people will respond, they will tell their friends, and your blog will grow.

Does this model take longer? It may.

Do you make more money? Not in the short-term.

Can you build a high-traffic, profitable blog through generosity? Absolutely.

Don’t just take my word for it though, check out these 11 examples of people creating excellent, world-class content, and giving it away for free.

Tim Ferriss

I recently bought my first Tim Ferriss book, the 4 Hour Chef (if you’re going to buy it, get the hardcover edition, digital doesn’t do it justice). I wasn’t a fan of Tim’s at the beginning, thinking him too narcisstic, self-promotive, and even lazy. C’mon man, 4 hour work weeks? But, the guy does such a good job of being persistent, dealing with haters, and experimenting, that he’s won me over. He gives away awesome content and lessons on his blog, many of which end up making it in to his books. The language lesson below was originally written in 2009, and didn’t make print until this fall in the 4 Hour Chef. Are his tactics and lessons for everyone? No, but he doesn’t care about everyone, which is actually just fine. But I do believe you can find something that will help you on his site, if you take the time to read.

Pat Flynn

Pat runs SmartPassiveIncome.com, is one of the leaders in the Generosity movement, and practices what he preaches. One of the practices that sets Pat apart is he publishes his income reports down to the cent. You may think this is a bit narcissistic, but Pat includes in his blog the methods he uses to make money online! He writes well about different strategies for growing your blog, his how-to videos are incredibly helpful, and the SPI podcast regularly showcases great ideas to help you build and grow your blog or business.

Pat’s top hits

Guide to Writing an E-book (free resource via subscribing to his email list)

Check out my free workbook, Choose What You Love. A challenging and provoking look at what really matters to you.

Jeff Goins

Jeff runs GoinsWriter.com, a community passionate about writing, creativity, and ideas. Jeff is big proponent of being generous, and has given away almost every great work he’s shipped. Jeff strongly believes that free is your best marketing, and the most effective way to spread your story. He even gave away his book You Are A Writer for free on Amazon, and gained thousands of new readers.

Seth Godin

Seth is arguably the top blogger and business writer in the world, selling books by the millions, and speaking to top-dollar, sold out crowds wherever he goes. He’s a rock star. He also gives away great stuff for free, every day. Seth has posted on his blog every day for years, regularly testing content and ideas that make it in to his books. He’s launched a publishing service that is changing the way books are distributed (including sponsoring a few freebies), and is giving away an audio recording of his Startup School (which was $950 live).

John Saddington

John is more commonly known as the TentBlogger, a clever and biblical nod to the Apostle Paul’s chosen craft of tent making. He is open, honest, and regularly shares great tips and courses on how to make money online, build your audience, streamline your workflow, and more. If you’re in the market for a new blogging theme, John also crafted the popular Standard theme, which is all about simplicity and speed. If I wasn’t already tied to the StudioPress themes (which I still love), I would definitely look hard at Standard.

Michael Hyatt

Michael blogs at MichaelHyatt.com, a blog focused on Intentional Leadership. But he doesn’t stop there, doling out advice on publishing, writing, productivity, speaking, and more. Michael spent his professional career in the book publishing business, including a stint as the CEO of Thomas Nelson, so you know you’re hearing from one of the best. His podcast episode Advice to First-Time Authors (and part 2), is as valuable as sitting across from the CEO of a major publishing firm, which little ol’ me (or you) has no chance of doing right now. Michael bridges that gap and educates the masses, and is available for you on his blog.

Danielle LaPorte

Danielle first made waves with White Hot Truth and The Firestarter Sessions, and has followed up with fresh, engaging, and inspired writing for her community. In her about page (Here I Am), Danielle shares her highs, lows and many winding roads to arrive as one of the premier bloggers and speakers in North America. As with everyone on this list, Danielle shares content and resources on her blog that would normally cost hundreds of dollars to see her live. She’s building up one of the intimate and honest communities a writer could ask for by being generous with her time and spirit.

Check out Danielle’s collection of free interviews, worksheets, and images.

AppSumo

The Head Sumos serve up great deals on web apps, services, and courses to help your blog, business, or cause. I really like what they do and how they deliver it. The language is salty, the humor irreverent, and certainly have a flair for self-promotion. Plus, they do their video shoots in Sumo suits (at times). AppSumo isn’t for everyone, but they provide killer products at great prices, and have fun doing it. They also give away some incredible content, including interviews, courses, checklists, apps, and bundle deals. They have mastered the art of grabbing attention and keeping you tuned in.

You’ll have to dig through the list, but you can find lots of valuable freebies from AppSumo.

Ashley Ambridge

Ashley’s site, TheMiddleFingerProject.org, is fun from the moment you type the address in to your browser. She has a funny, refreshing, and honest style that goes against the grain. A marketer and copywriter by trade, her blog is full of helpful advice for small businesses and freelancers, including this great post on how photographers should introduce their pricing.

Buffer App

Joel and Leo have built one of the most useful web apps in social media. Buffer allows users to space out their tweets or Facebook updates at specific times during the day, freeing you from tweet bombing people when you happen to be available. It’s an awesome service, integrates with almost any reader client you have, and is absolutely brilliant. So of course, they give it away. Yep, you can use Buffer to schedule 10 tweets or updates at a time, which easily lets you get through 1-2 days without refilling. They also share incredibly useful tips and hacks on their blog.

Morgan Ragland

Ok, a tip of the hat to my courageous wife, who is launching a fitness blog, something she has always been passionate about, and is ready to take the first step and start shipping on January 1st. TheSimpleGym.com is a community dedicated to simple but challenging workouts you can do at home or a nearby park. She was tired of gyms being crowded, inconvenient, and without enough space to move in an active workout. It certainly helps that Morgan is a certified personal trainer, but she will be posting 4 workouts a week, along with lifestyle and nutrition articles. Check out the launch page, and get an early start on your workouts by getting on the email list. Early training begins December 26.

Generosity also applies to physical businesses and goods

When Moe’s Southwest Burritos opens a new restaurant, they will often have a free burrito/taco day, or hand out an absurd amount of free food coupons to local groups, leagues, and even to people passing by the store. Moe’s understands that once you get people in the door, you now have the opportunity to win their loyalty through good food, kind service, and a welcoming environment.

You can do the same with your blog, giving people valuable content will get the “in the door”, and then you have the opportunity to wow them through showing the readers how they can improve their life, business, or relationships. If you can do this, then eventually you can sell something, and they will trust and appreciate that your product is something worth paying for. You’ve gained trust and permission, the 2 greatest assets in marketing and business today.

Don’t drown in a sea of noise. Give something away, and watch it spread